Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
Today marks the Anniversary of the Death of Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia, who passed away on this day in 1928! The Danish Princess who married the Russian Tsar and became the mother of the tragic last Tsar, the Empress possessed a spectacular collection of jewels, with one of the most iconic pieces being her Pearl Brooch!
The origin of this striking Pearl Brooch, which was composed of a large round pearl ringed with a ribbon of diamonds, from which a large pear-shaped pearl was suspended from another pearl and diamond, is unknown but it may be among the gifts given to Princess Dagmar of Denmark upon her marriage to the future Tsar Alexander III in 1866.
The young Tsesarevna wore her Pearl Brooch for a series of iconic portraits taken around 1870, with her son, the ill-fated future Tsar Nicholas II of Russia.
In 1874, Tsesarevna Maria Feodorovna wore her Pearl Brooch for an iconic portrait made by Heinrich von Angeli, which still hangs in the Hermitage. The painting was reproduced for Queen Victoria by Müller and hung in the Royal Visitor’s Bedroom at Windsor Castle.
The Pearl Brooch was one of the few jewels that the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna escaped with from Russia and retained the piece until the end of her life, notably wearing it for the Wedding of the Duke of Beaufort and Lady Mary Cambridge at St Margaret’s Church in Westminster in 1923.
After the Dowager Empress’ death in 1928, her daughters, Grand Duchess Xenia and Grand Duchess Olga, sold several of her jewels to Queen Mary, but the Pearl Brooch valued at 7,000 pounds was at some point sold to Lydia, Lady Deterding, who wore the Brooch for a series of portraits taken by Dorothy Wilding.
After Lady Deterding’s death, Empress Maria Feodorovna’s Pearl Brooch was auctioned off at Christie’s in Geneva, set as the pendant of a Cartier Diamond Necklace. The current location of the Brooch is unknown.
Empress Maria Feodorovna’s Pearl Wave Tiara
Empress Maria Feodorovna’s Pearl Brooch
Maria Feodorovna’s Sapphire Bandeau
Russian Sapphire Cluster Brooch